Shoetree



Dec. 31, 1940. R. M. KRISTAL.

SHOETREE Filed March 28, 1939 INVENTOR Patented Dec. 31, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in shoetrees or forms for maintaining the proper shape of shoes when they are not in use.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an efiicient, simple, economical and adjustable shoetree so constructed as to be readily inserted and withdrawn from a shoe.

It is an object to provide a shoetree so arranged that by simple manipulation its length can be varied to fit any size of shoe.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a shoetree with telescoping flexible members so that one member may be movable relative to the other member for varying the length of said shoetree.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide simple adjustable connecting means between the toe and heel blocks for effecting a yielding self-adjusting pressure on the shoe in which it is inserted.

In carrying out these objects I have devised a construction in which the connection between the toe and heel blocks comprises a telescoping device including outer and inner coil springs, threadedly engageable for varying the length of said shoetree.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a shoetree with adjustable means for varying the degree of tension tobe transmitted to the shoe into which the tree is fitted.

These and other objects will be apparent and flow from a consideration of the invention which consists of certain constructions and combinations of the parts hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a shoetree partly broken away embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of spring means included in such embodiment; and

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view partly broken away of an alternate form of the invention.

Referring to the drawing in detail, Figure 1 illustrates an improved form of construction as comprising a heel block adapted to fit inside the heel or counter portion of a shoe and a toe block ll shaped to fit within the toe box portion of a shoe.

Both the toe and heel blocks are provided with recesses I2 and I3 respectively, into which may be threadedly engaged, as indicated at I4, l5, one end of the outer coil spring I6, and one end of the inner coil spring II.

The coil spring I! may be interfitted either threadedly as shown in Figure 2, or slidably to provide what may be termed, telescoping member l8. There is thus provided a continuous coil spring connecting or intermediate member comprising two portions one inner and one outer, the inner portion being threadedly or slidably engaged 5 with the outer portion for varying the efiective length of said connecting member so that the shoetree may be adjusted to fit different sizes of shoes.

This longitudinal-adjustment is easily accomplished by mere manipulation or relative rotation of the heel block portion to the toe block portion.

In the form of construction shown in Figure 3, the toe block II and heel block ID are provided with deeper recesses than those shown in Figure 1, the intermediate or connecting member 15 being a one piece coil spring.

In order to vary the length of a shoetree made in this manner the one piece coil spring may be adjusted either relative to the toe block and/or the heel block as may be desired or required.

In practice the shoetree is inserted into the shoe by placing the toe block well into the toe portion of the shoe, the coil spring being flexed until the heel block is disposed within the counter of the shoe, the action of the spring will then exert pressure until it contacts the heel portion of the counter where its tension will automatically hold the shoetree in the shoe and exert suflicient pressure to keep the shoe in proper shape and obviate distortion thereof.

To withdraw the shoetree from a shoe all that is necessary is to flex the coil spring until the heel block is free of the heel portion of the counter and then retract the toe block from the shoe.

The adjustment in the coil springs serves the two-fold purpose of fitting the shoetree to difierent sizes of shoes and for varying the degree of tension on said coil springs to be transmitted to the shoe into which the tree is fitted.

It is thus apparent that I have devised an efficient and practical construction for carrying out the desired objects of the invention and that my construction is compact, and easily inserted or removed from a shoe. The construction is economical and with few parts. The device is adjustable longitudinally and thus only one size will fit practically all sizes of mens and womens shoes.

While certain embodiments of this invention have been shown and described it will be understood that I am not limited thereto and that other embodiments thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A shoetree comprising a toe member and a heel member, associated coil springs connecting said members, said springs being longitudinally movable relative to each other for varying the overall length of the tree.

2. A shoetree comprising toe and heel members, interconnecting flexible means between the two members, said means comprising a plurality of coil springs telescopically adjustable relative to each other for varying the efiective length of the tree.

3. A shoetree comprising a toe member and a heel member, interfitting flexible means connecting said members, said means comprising a plurality of coil springs threadedly adjustable for varying the overall length of the tree.

4. A shoetree comprising a toe engaging portion, a heel engaging portion, a flexible member connected with one of said portions and a flexible membercomprisinga coil spring connected to the other of said portions, said two flexible members being adjustably engaged with each other for varying the efiective length of the shoetree.

5. A shoetree-comprising a toe engaging portion, a heel engaging portion, a female member connected with one of said portions and a male memberconnected to the other of said portions, said two members being adjustably engaged with each other for varyingthe efiective length of the shoetree, at least one of said members being a coil spring.

6. The combination with a device having two end elements of associated coil springs connecting said elements, said springs being longitudinally movable relative to each other for varying the overall length of the device.

'7. A shoetree comprising a toe portion and a heel portion, associated members connecting said portions, said members being telescopically connected together in series and longitudinally movable relative to each otherfor Varying the overall length of the shoetree, at least one of said members being a coil spring so arranged as to be arched when placed in the shoe.

8. A device of the character described having end elements and a connector therebetween, said connector comprising a plurality of members connected together in end-to-end relation, one of said members being a coil spring, and the members having means at the connected ends thereof for adjustment lengthwise relative to each other and for securing said ends in a plurality of ad justed positions.

9. A shoetree comprising end elements and a connector therebetween, said connector including a plurality of members telescoped together substantially in end-to-end relation with a screwthreaded connection between said ends for relative lengthwise adjustment, one of said members being a coil spring.

ROBERT M. KRISTAL. 

